Hat size adjuster



May 2o, 1952 WIDDER 2,597,555

HAT SIZE ADJUSTER Filed Jan. 18, 1949 2z Jy ,7

27 27 ffm/ga my. rfi

INVENTOR.

- fa/f f] MTWR/my Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED STATES 'rer HAT SIZE ADJUSTER Louis Widder, New York, N. Y.

This invention relates to take-up or adjustment devices and more particularly to such devices as used to provide for closer fitting of mens felt hats, for example.

Mens hats of the felt or fedora type are generally sold in sizes varying by eighths. However, the difference in circumferential length of the hatband for each 1/8 change in size is equal to inch. In quite a few cases, this difference between two adjacent sizes is of sumcient magnitude that a close lit is not obtainable by a wearer having a head size between two hat sizes. Additionally, and as is readily observable, a fresh hair cut makes considerable difference in the fit of a hat. Y

For this purpose, it has been proposed to sew adjustment means within the hat for shortening the length of the hatband so that a wearer having an in-between head size can purchase a hat having the larger size and shorten the hatband length to fit his head. While such adjustment means as hitherto used provided for incremental reduction of the effective hatband length, they have been unsatisfactory for other reasons such as bulk, inconvenient location, etc. Furthermore, it has been necessary to permanently secure such adjustment devices to the hat, which may be inconvenient in many cases, as when the hat has shrunk, for example. The devices cannot be readily removed or replaced, and must be very carefully secured to the hat, frequently requiring the services of a tailor.

To obviate these difficulties, the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive hat adjuster which may be readily and easily secured to a hatband and disengaged therefrom. The adjustment is quickly and easily made and can be speedily changed.

Specifically, a first small plate of flexible metal is provided, and has a bendable, pointed clip at each end. Intermediate the clips, a loop is struck from the plate to serve as an anchor for an elastic band having a hook secured to its free end. This hook is adapted to engage in any one of a number of longitudinally spaced struck-outs in a second elongated plate of exible metal, likewise having bendable pointed clips at its ends. The struck-outs are evenly spaced to provide incremental changes in length and, in effect comprise hook pockets overlying apertures in the second plate.

To use the invention device, the sweat band of the hat is opened outwardly and the first plate is placed behind the sweat band. Its prongs are pushed outwardly through the crown of the hat and bent over beneath the ribbon on the outer surface of the crown. The second plate is then. secured in position in the same manner at a short distance from the first plate. The effective circumference of the hat may then be easily and incrementally adjusted by securing the hook on the elastic band with a selected one of the aperture pockets in the second plate. When in.position, the device is protectively concealed by the sweat band and the ribbon. It may be removed easily by re-bending the four prongs to permit release of the plates.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, easily operated hat band length adjustment device.

Another object is to provide such a device which may be readily attached to a hat in a protective positiornand readily disengaged from the hat.

These, and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the adjustment device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of two plates forming part of the device;

Fig. 5 is a partial inside elevation View of a hat, with part of the sweat band broken awayillustrating the device as applied to a hat;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views on the corresponding lines of Fig. 5. Y

Referring,r to Figs. 1 through 4, the adjustment device I0 includes plates 2D and 30 of flexible metal and an elastic band 43 secured to plate 20 and having a hook 45 on its free end arranged to engage plate 3U.

Plate 20 is substantially rectangular in shape and has pointed iiexible prongs 2|, 2| at either end. Intermediate its ends, plate 20 has a loop 22 struck out therefrom, and band 4|] has its end folded around the loop and stitched to the band 46 as at 23. Prongs 2| are normally perpendicular to the body of plate 2li, and band 40 has hook i5 stitched to its free end as indicated at 24.

Plate 3Q is an elongated rectangle having normally perpendicular pointed prongs 3|, 3| at either end. The plate and prongs are formed from a single piece of flexible metal. Intermediate its ends, plate 30 is formed with struckout portions or pockets 32 each overlying an aperture 33. Portions 32 are uniformly spaced, preferably in equal increments of the difference v in two successive hat sizes.

The operation of the device will be best understood from Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Referring to these figures, a hat 2'5 is illustrated as having a brim 26 and a crown 21. The usual sweat band 28 is secured to the interior of the hat, as by being stitched thereto and folded back on itself. As is customary, an ornamental ribbon 29 is placed around crown 21 adjacent brim 26.

To secure adjustment device l0 in position, sweat band 28 is bent down and the prongs 2|, 2l of plate 20 are pierced outwardly through crown 2'! and bent over beneath ribbon 29. Plate 30 is secured to the crown in a similar manner adjacent the hook end of elastic band 40. Preferably, the two elements are hooked together at their maximum setting during securement to the hat. The hat size is then incrementally reduced by selective engagement of vhook- 45, with a selected one of portions 32, and the device is protectively covered by sweat band 28.

It will thus be seen that a simply operated, inexpensive, adjustment .device is provided which is quickly and easily attached toy a hat and detached therefrom. No stitching orskill is re- Quilted to, make the. attachment. When in position, the, device is. fully covered, sothat there is no `discomfort to the wearer or unsightly disngurement, of the. hat.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown ,and described in detail to. illustrate. the application `of' the. principles thereof, it should be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A length adjuster for hats comprising, in combination with a hat crown having mounted on theexterior face. thereof a ribbon and on the interior ieee thereof a Sweat band.: longitudinally spaced; rst and. second plate members. extending intheseme horizontal plane and attached to the interior-ieee oi sind` hat crown inwardlyof Said sweat band, each of said plate members having a pair of. spacedmaterial piercing bendable prongs extending through said hat crown and folded beneath the ribbon, said rst plate membrhaving a loop, an elastic element. secured at its one end to the loop: of said llrst member and; extending longitudinally therefrom, a hook secured to the` free end ofsaid elastic element.

a series ofspaced hook receiving meansv on said second plate. member, whereby to. provide, upon disposing of the hook in the. respective hook receiving means. for incremental displacement of the. portion of the hat crown between the respective plate members.

2; A length adjuster for hats. comprising, in combination, a rst member having a pair of spaced bendable, rearwardly extending, material piercing prongs and having a loop; an elastic element secured at its one end to the loop of said first member and extending longitudinally thereof; a hook secured to the free other end of said elastic element and extending in one direction; and a second member longitudinally spaced with respect to, and within the same horizontal plane as, said rst member and having a pair oi spaced bendable, rearwardly extending, material piercing prongs, said second member having a series of forwardly extending struck-out portions between its prongs and extending in a direction opposite to that of said hook to receive said hook, said portions being spaced apart increments of the length difference between successive hat sizes.

3. A length adjuster for hats comprising, in combination with a hat crown having mounted on the exterior face thereof a ribbon and on the interior face thereof; a sweat band; longitudinally spaced lirst and second plate; members. attachedl to the interior face of saidl hat crown inwardly of said sweat band, each of said plate members having a. pair of rearwardly extending, spaced material piercing bendable prongs passing through said hat .crown and folded beneath the ribbon, said first plate member having al loop, an elastic element secured at its one end to the loop of said rst plate member and extending longitudinally therefrom, a. hooi: secured to the free end of said` elastic element and extending in one direction, a series `of for wardly extending struck-fmt` portions extending in a direction opposite to that of said hook4 on said second plate member, said4 portions being spaced apart increments oi the length difference between successive hat Sizes whereby to provide. 1113.011. disposing. 0f. the hook inV therespective struck-out. portions, for incremental displace; ment. of the portion of the, hat crown, between the respective, plate members,

LOUIS W'IDDER.

REFERENCES CTED The. following references are of record in the file of this patent:-

UNITED STATES PATENTS Isaacs June 28, 1949 

